FOMWAN Calls for Urgent Environmental Stewardship, Inaugurates Green Ambassadors to Champion Environmental Renewal in Ondo
The FOMWAN South West II Coordinator, Alhaja Sariyu Oyenike Laoye, has called on communities to draw on their faith traditions to combat environmental degradation and promote sustainable living.
Presenting a paper titled Faith and Environmental Stewardship, she said protecting the planet is a shared moral duty across religions and cultures.
Laoye, who recently delivered a lecture at the FOMWAN 15th Annual State Conference in Ondo East, Ondo State, noted that from indigenous spirituality to major world faiths, all emphasise care for the Earth.
She cited Christianity’s call to “tend and keep” God’s creation, Hinduism and Buddhism’s teachings on simplicity and harmony, and Judaism’s tikkun olam — the duty to “repair the world”. These values, she said, form the ethical foundation for modern environmental movements.
Highlighting Islam’s ecological message, Laoye explained the principles of khilafah (stewardship) and amanah (trust) as divine responsibilities.
“In Islam, humans are caretakers of the Earth and are answerable to Allah for how we use its resources,” she said, stressing that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) promoted conservation and warned against excess.
She urged individuals to conserve water, recycle, car-share, and support local farmers, while encouraging communities to organise clean-up drives, tree planting, and environmental workshops.
“Small acts can yield a massive impact,” she said. “When we live with purpose and restraint, we honour both our Creator and His creation.”
Laoye also called for collaboration and youth involvement, urging mosques, schools, and civic groups to promote environmental education.
“Our future depends on what we do today,” she declared. “When faith inspires action, the result is not only a cleaner environment but a more compassionate world.”
The guest lecturer, Alhaji (Dr) Abass Mimiko, delivering a lecture on climate resilience, urged Muslim women and community leaders to take the lead in safeguarding the environment through conscious and faith-aligned practices.
Mimiko commended FOMWAN for choosing a theme that resonates with global environmental concerns, while affirming the government’s readiness to collaborate on environmental matters, as signalled by the commissioner’s support.
In his lecture titled Climate Resilience Strategies for Muslim Women: Exploring Adaptive Measures and Practices, Dr Mimiko highlighted practical steps individuals and communities can adopt to conserve the environment.
He underscored the Islamic obligation to protect the Earth, stressing actions such as water conservation, proper waste disposal, sustainable farming, and the revitalisation of communal green spaces.
In an address, the State Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Local Government Affairs, Hon. Amidu Takuro, appreciated FOMWAN for deeming him worthy of delivering the keynote address, delegating Alhaji Usman of the Teaching Service Commission to stand in for him. His representative, Alhaji Usman, emphasised the economic and ecological benefits of tree planting, cautioning against indiscriminate tree felling.
Mimiko subsequently inaugurated the newly formed Green Ambassadors, describing them as “the generation that must champion environmental renewal”.
In a symbolic gesture, he joined the Chairman of Ondo East Local Government, Hon. Ogunduyilemi, along with the commissioner’s representative, the State Amirah, BOA officials, and FOMWAN executives, to plant trees within the venue — an act he described as “a seed of hope for the future”.
Earlier, the Ondo State FOMWAN Amirah, Alhaja Omikunle Medinat Adinni, urged Muslim women to take active roles in addressing climate change through faith-based and community-driven actions. She said the theme, Empowering Muslim Women in the Face of Climate Change, reflects the urgent need for women’s participation in building resilient and sustainable communities.
Quoting the Qur’an (Surah Al-A’raf 7:56), she reminded attendees that Islam calls believers to protect the Earth. “Muslim women are not powerless. Our faith calls us to nurture, protect, and act for the good of the planet,” she said.
She added that FOMWAN remains committed to education, health, and environmental advocacy across Ondo State.
The event also featured award presentations to distinguished personalities who have supported community development and practical demonstrating of tree planting by special guests of honours at the event.
